Endocrine Abstracts

The formation of the placental syncytiotrophoblast through trophoblast differentiation is a key cellular event, essential for successful embryonic implantation, oxygen/nutrient transport and secretion of placental hormones necessary for fetal development. Trophoblast differentiation alters expression of various molecules with important roles in placental biology, including 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2), the major component of the placental glucoc...

Background: Evidences show that maternal vitaminB12 deficiency at periods of development influence metabolic status and degree of metabolic syndrome of the offspring into adulthood. VitaminB12 is required for the synthesis of methionine, which is the precursor of S-adenosyl-methionine, a key methyl donor for DNA methylation. So vitaminB12 deficiency might cause methylation changes, which are thought to alter gene expression of regulatory factors and could result in adverse met...

Placental corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH) appears to play important physiological roles during pregnancy and labour. In the placenta, CRH appears to regulate diverse actions such as human trophoblast cell grown and invasion, tissue remodeling, direct modulation of the placental prostaglandin generation and bioavailability and control of placental vascular tone through regulation of endothelial NOS (NOSIII) expression and activation1. CRH actions are mediated ...

Background: Low vitamin B12 (B12) during pregnancy is associated with higher maternal obesity, insulin resistance (IR) and gestational diabetes (GDM). However, it is not clear whether these are causally related.Objective: B12 is a key co-factor of the DNA methylation cycle (1-carbon metabolism). We hypothesize that B12 plays a role in epigenetic regulation by altering circulating miRNAs (miRs) during adipocyte differentiation...

Background: Low vitamin B12 (B12) during pregnancy is associated with higher maternal obesity, insulin resistance (IR) and gestational diabetes (GDM). However, it is not clear whether these are causally related.Objective: B12 is a key co-factor of the DNA methylation cycle (1-carbon metabolism). We hypothesize that B12 plays a role in epigenetic regulation by altering circulating miRNAs (miRs) during adipocyte differentiation...

Background: Human cohorts and animal models provide compelling evidence suggesting the role of vitamin B12 in modulating the risk of diabetes and adiposity via developmental programming. We recently demonstrated that neonates born to mothers with low B12 levels in pregnancy have adverse cord blood lipid profile and in vitro studies in human adipocytes with low B12 showed increased cholesterol biosynthesis. Therefore, we hypothesized that vitamin B12 deficiency may pla...

Pregnancy, a state of insulin resistance (IR), is associated with elevated levels of cytokines and profound alterations in metabolism, directed towards supplying adequate nutrition for the fetus. Adiponectin, an adipokine with anti-inflammatory and insulin sensitising properties, plays an important role in energy homeostasis. Interestingly, in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a state of greater insulin resistance, serum adiponectin levels are lower than normal subjects. We...

Introduction: The successful prevention of type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a major clinical goal. The pathogenesis is multifactorial, with genetic and environmental influences that lead to a break in immune tolerance toward pancreatic beta cells. Through a number of prospective cohort studies, it is now understood that the presence of two or more diabetes-associated autoantibodies is highly predictive of future T1D diagnosis. In addition to the genetic rationale (insulin gene sequenc...

Background: Vitamin B12 (B12) insufficiency is common in pregnancy and independently predicts insulin resistance (IR) in the offspring. B12 is an important key nutrient for epigenetic programming through regulating DNA methylation. Such B12 DNA methylation may influence leptin, a strong candidate for methylation, which could impact both insulin resistance (IR) and associated neonatal metabolic risk. Therefore, we hypothesize that leptin can be programmed by maternal B12 which ...

Background/objectives: Irisin is a novel myokine, released predominantly by skeletal muscle. Peripheral action of irisin improves glucose homeostasis, increases energy expenditure and induces browning of adipocytes, with therapeutic potential for use in weight loss. However, there are no human studies on the central role of irisin in the regulation of appetite or energy expenditure. This study sought to examine the potential central role of irisin, by demonstrating irisin in h...